Wool-combing machine.



T. H. FRIEND & J. F. REYNOLDSx WOOL GOMBING MACHINE. APPLICATION PILEDVDEOA. 191a.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

' ATTORNEYS WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. P HOTO-LITHO" WASHINGTON, D c.

llNITlzl THOIVIAS HENRY FRIEND, OF NORTH AND'OVER, AND JOHN FRANKLIN REYNOLDS, OF LAWRENCE, IJIASSAGl-IUSEITS.

WOOL-COMBING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb 16,1915.

. Application filed December 4, 1913. Serial No. 804,746.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS H. FRIEN and JOHN F. REYNOLDS, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of North Andover and Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Wool-combing Machine, of which the following is a' full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

This invention relates generally to wool combing machines, and more Particularly to a friction driving mechanism for wool combing machines of that type wherein large rotating circular combs are used in connection with smaller rotating circular combs arranged within the larger combs and cooperating with the latter at a plurality of points,.whereby the wool passes between the larger and smaller combs for the purpose ofcombing. In machines of this character blades having a small vertical reciprocating movement are used to force the wool into the teeth of the combs, and cooperating with these blades are star wheels or feeders which keep the wool slivers straight as they pass under the blades, so as to more effectively enter the combs. A driving mechanism overhanging the large circular combs is employed for rotating the star feeders, such mechanism including a belt drive, which is objectionable for the reason that the belt often breaks and falls down into the combs and under the blades of the machine, whereby great damage is done to the needles, necessitating the shutting down of the machine, the employment of high-priced men to efiect repairs, etc.

It is the object of the present invention,

a suitable supporting means which main-P tains the idler in engagement with the driving and driven belt pulleys of the machine so as to cause an effective transfer of power, the supporting means being so designed as to be readily applied to the machine.

With such objects in view and others which will appear as the description proceeds,the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts such as will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wool combing machine with the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a side view of the attachment in its relation to the driving and driven pulleys; Fig. 3 is a front view of the attachment; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the spring for maintaining a frictional grip between the idler and the driving and driven pulleys.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the large circular combs of the machine (the smaller combs being concealed), 2 the blades for forcing the wool into the combs, 3 the rotary star wheels or feeders for feeding the wool slivers properly to the blades, 1 the rotating carriage, 5 the power wheel of the driving mechanism that overhangs the combs, 6 the driving pulley fastened to the Wheel 5, 7 the driven pulley mounted on the countershaft 8, and 9 the rotating shaft or spindle for the star wheel, said shaft 9 being driven by a gearing incloscd in a casing 10. The outer end of the counter or intermediate shaft 8 is steadied by means of a bracket 11 having removably fixed thereon a bearing block 12 in which the shaft 8 rotates. These parts are of usual construction and form no part of the pres ent invention.

The present invention comprises an attachment A which is adapted to take the place of the usual belt that transmits power from the small pulley 6 to the larger pulley 7 The attachment comprises an idler or friction wheel 13 which is adapted to simultaneously engage the grooved peripheries of the pulleys 6 and 7 The pulley 13 is mounted on an axle 14: which is bolted to an arm 15, such arm having a slot 16, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the aXle can be shifted inwardly or outwardly on the arm to obtain the proper adjustment with respect to the driving and driven pulleys. This arm 15 is removably fastened to an extension bar or bracket member 17 which is carried by the outer end or head 18 of an diaryof the friction wheel or idler 18. This" spring means comprises a helical spring 21 which is partly housed in the hub and has one end 22 connected with the hub while the other end is housed in a collar 23 to which the opposite end 24: of the spring 7 is fastened. This hub is held by a set screw 25 fixedly on. the bracket member'll. To give the spring the proper tension it is merely necessary to loosen the said screw 25 and turn the collar 23 in one direction or the other and then re-tighten the set screw. By making use of the bracket 11 as the support for the attachment the extension rod 17 is necessary, but the parts 1'5, 17 and 19 constitute the supporting arm for the idler 13, which arm is urged con stantly in a direction to maintain the proper frictional engagement between the pulleys and idler. The attachment takes up comparatively little room, is inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eilicient in use, easily and'quickly applied, and effectively overcomes the objections noted in connection with a belt driving means.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, theadvantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood'by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have described the principle of operation, to- V gether with the device which we now consider to be the'best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes maybe made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1'. In a combing machine, the combination of a comb, blades cooperating therewith, rotary feeders cooperating with the blades, a driving shaft overhanging the comb, a countershaft overhanging the comb, driving of combs, blades for directing material into the combs, rotary feeders cooperating with the blades, a driving mechanism overhanging the combs and including a power means, a countershaft, a pulley thereon, said power means including a pulley, an idler frictionally held in contact with the pulleys, and driving means between the countershaft and feeders.

3. Ina combing machine, the combination of combs, blades cooperating therewith, rotary feeders cohperating with the blades, a rotary shaft, gearing between the shaft and feeders for rotating the latter, a bracket supporting the shaft, a frictional driving gear including an idler for driving the countershaft, and a supporting means mounted on the b acket for holding the idler and maintaining the same in direct engagement.

at. In a combing machine, the combination of rotary feeders, a rotating shaft operatively connected with the feeders, a bracket for supporting the shaft, a swinging arm on the bracket, a spring tending to move the arm in one direction, an extension bar carried by the arm, an arm mounted on the extension bar, an idler mounted on the lastmentioned arm, power means including a pulley with which the idler is held in engagement, and a pulley on the said shaft with which the idler is held in engagement.

5. An attachment for a combing machine of the class described comprising a frictional wheel, an arm supporting the wheel, a bar on which the arm is adjustably mounted, a secondary arm supporting the bar, a bracket on which the second arm is movably mounted, and a spring acting on the second arm for operating through the arms and bar to maintain the frictional wheel in operative position.

. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS HENRY FtIEND. JOHN FRANKLIN REYNOLDS. lVitnesses JOHN H. Srrmnnn, FRED Gorr.

Go'piesof this patient may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C." 

